This issue has nothing to do with whether one is a Lois Lover or a Mitchum hater (one and the same in most cases) or not. The issue one of principle (remember those?) and is about lying in a campaign. She said she approved the ad, which was another example of bad behavior by Lyin' Lois. She should step down. And hopefully Mitchum will win the lawsuit (how could he not) and other potential liars will be more careful what they endorse.

The oil ALREADY is transported by truck and train. XL will take a lot of that load and reduce the risk of what we just saw in W.Va. Not to mention reducing pollutants emitted by the trucks and trains. Duh.

And, excuse me loonpt, do you REALLY think "THEY" engineered a massive train explosion" If so, your screen name is well chosen.

@art and others: There was another more recent article in the NYT referring to WMD more recently discovered. Unfortunately the article has been widely ignored (after all, EVERYONE knows that Bush lied). Google "WMD and New York Times".

I'm wondering if the Montecito Union school folks who are against vaccinations because they "cause autism" (totally debunked "study" based on 12 subjects, easily accessible online) are the same ones who opposed cellphone sites believing that they "cause cancer" (debunked worldwide in multiple studies, mostly in northern Europe). Science, anyone?

Apologies re my attribution of a Lompoc PD incident to SMPD. And yes, I am distrustful of LEOs in the SB area - they have a demonstrably higher kill rate than LEOs in many larger and more danger areas. I did the research. I posted the research. All factual. No one has come up with fact-based denial, preferring instead to accuse me of having a problem with facts.

LEOS are not ordinary people; they are gifted a badge and gun and the presumed correctness of their actions (just ask Joyce) and should therefore be held to a higher standard. I'm not criticizing every action, just the ones that appear to show lack of restraint, lack of respect for the citizens, and lack of respect for the law itself.

I see no evidence that the LEOs are willing to "take on the criticism"; they just circle the wagons and deny responsibility, again aided by Joyce.

And, finally, adherence to procedure (aka "I was just following orders") is a rather thin defense if the procedures are flawed. Read your history.

Serious drought IS an environmental issue. Had we built and maintained the desal plant in the 90's instead of relying on the lying state of CA to provide water, we'd already have this solved. The time for providing employment for enviros on this issue has long passed. Build it.